plate no. 6755

Portrait of a Zulu woman

Irma Stern, 1935

oilPost-Impressionismportraitportraitwomanheaddresslandscapemountainsjewelry

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, color mixing for skin tones, and simplifying complex forms into basic shapes. It also provides practice in capturing light and shadow using visible brushstrokes.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes of the figure, headdress, and background.
step 02
Block in the main areas of color for the skin, headdress, and background using thin washes.
step 03
Begin building up layers of color on the face, paying attention to highlights and shadows.
step 04
Add details to the headdress and jewelry, using smaller brushes.
step 05
Develop the background landscape with simplified shapes and colors.
step 06
Refine the contours of the figure and headdress, adding more definition.
step 07
Add final highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension.
step 08
Review and adjust colors and values as needed to achieve a cohesive look.

color palette

primary · burnt sienna · yellow ochre · ultramarine blue · titanium white

secondary · cadmium red · raw umber · cerulean blue

Mix various combinations of burnt sienna, yellow ochre, and ultramarine blue to create a range of skin tones. Add white to lighten the colors and red to warm them up. Use cerulean blue and white for the sky.

techniques

·color blocking
·visible brushstrokes
·dry brushing
·layering
·color mixing

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details and losing the freshness of the brushstrokes.
→Failing to capture the correct skin tones and values.
→Making the background too detailed and distracting from the figure.
→Not simplifying the shapes and forms enough.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas
·acrylic or oil paints
·round brushes (various sizes)
·flat brushes (various sizes)
·palette
·palette knife
·linseed oil (if using oil paints)
·odorless mineral spirits (for cleaning brushes)

optional

·painting medium
·easel
·rags

Use a medium-grain canvas for best results. Acrylics are more beginner-friendly due to their faster drying time, but oils offer richer colors and blending capabilities.

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